Vancouver Aquarium seeking answers on back-to-back beluga deaths

Scientists around the continent are working to unravel the mystery of the deaths of Qila and Aurora, the Vancouver Aquarium’s two belugas that succumbed this month to sudden illness, just days apart.

Until scientists can figure out what happened, it is too early to know what the “unprecedented,” back-to-back deaths will mean for the future of one of the aquarium’s marquee attractions, said aquarium president and CEO John Nightingale at a news conference Monday morning.

“The passing of two animals in a situation like this — never mind two whales — within a two-week period, is unprecedented in our 60-year history. As near as we can tell from talking to other institutions, it’s rare or unprecedented, period, to have two whales die of something that seems to be connected in such a short time,” Nightingale said.

Asked if these events could change the future of whales at the aquarium, he said: “It certainly could. But exactly how and in what direction … we’ll have to wait until we see what happens.”

The deaths have prompted some civic leaders to question the future of whales in captivity in Vancouver. After Qila’s death earlier this month, Vancouver park board chairwoman Sarah Kirby-Yung told Postmedia she wants to consider a plebiscite question on the 2018 municipal election ballot, asking voters their opinions on captive cetaceans.

At a park board meeting Monday night, Kirby-Yung submitted a notice of a motion on the issue, which is expected to be heard at a future board meeting. The results of any such plebiscite would be non-binding, said City of Vancouver spokesman Tobin Postma.

Earlier that evening, about a dozen protesters interrupted the meeting, calling for a ban on cetaceans at the aquarium. Amid chants of “have a plan” and “enact a ban,” a spokesman told commissioners the aquarium should limit its activities to rescue and rehabilitation and cease putting on shows and providing entertainment.

Aquarium management learned about Kirby-Yung’s call for a plebiscite through media reports, said Nightingale, adding “it was news to us.”

Messages of support and condolence are seen on a viewing window at the tank where beluga whales Aurora and Qila were kept at the Vancouver Aquarium, in Vancouver, B.C., on Monday November 28, 2016. Aurora died Friday after her calf Qila died less than two weeks earlier.DARRYL DYCK /
THE CANADIAN PRESS

“I would suspect that what (Kirby-Yung) did, she in some way hopes to relieve the pressure on the park board,” Nightingale said. “I think that’s a mistake, I think it’s probably going to intensify the pressure on the park board. But we don’t run the park board, they do.”

Meanwhile, aquarium crews are waiting on results of toxicology tests and tissue samples sent to experts in Florida, California, Ontario and elsewhere in North America, said head vet Martin Haulena.

“This does not happen on my watch,” Haulena said. “And I will not rest until we find some answers, that’s a promise, and neither will anyone else around here.”

At this early stage, the “most likely culprits for this are either a virus or a toxin,” including the possibility of “an introduced toxin,” Haulena said. Asked if that meant someone could have intentionally poisoned the whales, Haulena said: “I will stress that nothing’s off the table right now.”

Vancouver Aquarium President and CEO Dr. John Nightingale speaks during a news conference about the deaths of beluga whales Aurora and Qila, in Vancouver, B.C., on Monday November 28, 2016. Aurora died Friday after her calf Qila died less than two weeks earlier.DARRYL DYCK /
THE CANADIAN PRESS

Nightingale said aquarium management has modified security and surveillance protocols since the deaths, but wouldn’t elaborate on the changes. Security-camera footage, he said Monday, was being “reviewed minute-by-minute.”

Aquarium management has had “a couple of conversations” with the Vancouver police about the whales’ deaths, Nightingale said.

Police spokesman Staff Sgt. Randy Fincham said cops had been in touch with aquarium staff, but added: “There is no evidence that has been shared with police to suggest foul play in the unfortunate death of Qila or Aurora.”

A planned expansion of the aquarium’s beluga habitat was still in the design and planning phase, Nightingale said, and no final decisions on the project would be made until scientists could determine the cause of the whales’ deaths. “The construction will not happen until we know what happened to these two whales,” he said.

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